Neonne Ameer, a dedicated educator committed to social justice, holds a bachelor’s degree in History and Education from CUNY Lehman College and master’s degrees in Urban Studies, Public Administration, and Policy from CUNY School of Labor and Urban Studies. She is the first in her family to complete college. With a background in history and education, she taught social studies before transitioning to non-profit work. Currently pursuing a PhD in Curriculum and Instruction with a specialization in Curriculum Evaluation and Research at Barry University, Neonne continues to show determination and passion for education. Starting in education while in high school, she has gained a deep understanding of the field’s challenges and opportunities. Neonne’s commitment to inclusive, comprehensive education shows in her efforts to write curricula that address societal needs. Neonne founded SLU’s student union and developed a robust governance structure to support current and future student leadership. Alongside her academic pursuits, Neonne works at Student Leadership Network as Director of College Counseling at one of their New York City all-girls public schools, ensuring every student has a successful post-secondary plan. Neonne’s leadership, organizational skills, and dedication to positive change exemplify her remarkable contributions to education.
Cassandra Klewicki, PMP, is a Project Manager with the New York State Thruway Authority, where she leads complex, cross-functional projects spanning technology migrations, regulatory compliance, and agency-wide process improvement. After graduating from CUNY SLU with an MA in Labor Studies (Class of 2023), she was selected for the competitive, statewide Empire State Fellows Program, through which she served in policy and operations roles at the New York State Department of Labor and the Thruway Authority. Prior to entering state government, she cofounded Tradeswomen Building Bridges International, leading large-scale programs that engaged stakeholders across more than 25 countries, and worked as a Journey Level Carpenter within the United Brotherhood of Carpenters. In her spare time, she is an abortion and reproductive healthcare storyteller, a former Planned Parenthood Hudson Peconic Action Fund (PPHP) Board Member and has been a member of Planned Parenthood Federation of America’s Speakers Bureau.
Jaleel Parchment earned his Master of Arts in Urban Studies from CUNY’s School of Labor and Urban Studies (SLU) in 2023, after being introduced to the program through SLU’s Community Leadership initiative. He also holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University at Albany. Jaleel currently serves as a Territory Office Manager in the insurance industry, overseeing field engagement, broker relationships, and team training across the NY Metro territory. He’s proud to stay connected to SLU through the Alumni Board, supporting the school’s continued impact on students and the community.
Nicolas Pineda is a proud two-time alumnus of the CUNY School of Labor and Urban Studies, having earned his B.A. in Urban and Community Studies in 2019—serving as the undergraduate student speaker for SLU’s inaugural graduating class—and his M.A. in Labor Studies in 2022. His journey into labor advocacy began as a New York City municipal worker, where he utilized a DC37 tuition-free partnership to transition from facing rigid workplace barriers to becoming a key project manager at the NYC Department of Environmental Protection. Shortly after graduating, Nicolas went on to serve for two years as the Accountant for DC37 Local 2627 and continues to protect member rights today as an active Shop Steward. Deeply committed to institutional governance and student empowerment, he also helped start the SLU Student Union, serving on its Steering Committee in 2021 to anchor democratic labor principles into the fabric of our campus community.
Kayleigh Truman (They/Them) is a Ph.D. student at the Rutgers School of Management and Labor Relations studying Labor with a concentration in Social Work. Their primary areas of research are the entertainment labor economy, precarious work and invisible disabilities. An international labor educator and Mental Health First Aid instructor, they currently serve as a Representative-at-Large for the United Association for Labor Education (UALE). Outside of academics they are also a 10 year card carrying member of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (I.A T.S.E.), Local One out of New York City.